Depreciation is a serious issue for luxury cars. It’s the combination of a high percentage of a high price that would make most people’s eyes water.

But it is also the bargain car hunter's friend. It means that you could buy cars that cost more than £50,000 brand new for a few thousand today - and if you factor in inflation some of the ten cars we've picked out would cost well over £100,000 new today.

Be under no illusions though. Buying a cheap luxury motor can still require deep pockets, as running them and repairing them can be expensive. However, the cars we feature are considered future classics, are at the bottom of their value curve and many will start to go up again.

The 2000s BMW 7 Series was controversially styled but also considered one of the best and most luxurious cars in the world and used to ferry around the super-rich and heads of state. You can buy one of these 7 Series BMWs today from about £2,500 and we found a good 67,000 mile 2002 example for sale on Pistonheads for £4,450

Of course they can cost a lot to run today, and if they go badly wrong you could end up with bills that make a mockery of what you paid for the car.

But you may be able to sell it on without a loss, or even with a small profit. You might not make a mint but the car could cover its own running costs.

There are cars here that if you take into account what inflation has done to values have dropped by over £75,000 and, in one case, about £175,000.

These are cars built by a premium manufacturer mostly to high standards. And they could be yours for just a couple of grand or so. With the help of our friends at Pistonheads we've picked out some you can buy too.

Alfa Romeo 166 (1999-2005)

The best option is the pre-facelift V6 model, but any Alfa Romeo 166 - or any Alfa of this age or older - should be purchased at your own risk considering the reliability track record

New price: from £23,376 (today’s equivalent £37,175)

Price now: from £1,500

So let's kick off with the option that requires a leap of faith, but will reward you with a glorious engine, striking looks and bag you a car that is starting to get increasing attention from modern classic fans.

The Alfa before this one, the 164, is seeing its value rise and we reckon that will happen to the 166, which is surprisingly rare these days.

The best version is the early one, before the facelift. Go for the V6 petrol with 24 valves, listen to the noise, feel that Italian drama and revel in the style of that Italian cabin.

If you go for a four-cylinder model check the timing belt is in order, and watch out for the Xenon headlights as they’re expensive to replace.

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BMW 7 Series (2002-2009)

Many weren't fond of the looks of this generation 7 Series, meaning values fell more rapidly than usual. Now it represents a real bargain

New price: from £52,750 (today’s equivalent £78,749)

Price now: from £2,500

This is the BMW that really split opinion, with many loathing the Chris Bangle design. That means prices fell heavily, even more so than they normally do with the 7 Series.

But tastes change and time has mellowed those lines, while the quality of the build remains undimmed.

We’d go for the petrol version, the 730i, rather than the 730d diesel which had reliability issues. As an example of the kind of car you can pick up, we found this good 67,000 mile 2002 BMW 735i for sale on Pistonheads for £4,450.

Audi A8 (1994-2003)

The big screen has helped lift the credentials of this generation A8. We think it blends cool with sophistication

New price: from £35,530 (today’s equivalent £62,681)

Price now: from £2,000

Audi really threw everything at this car, which was meant to be the senior executive’s go-to wagon. While that wasn’t totally successful as a plan, the A8 is a fabulous result.

It’s cool and sophisticated too, helped by films like Transporter. It’s solid, has a gorgeously equipped and spacious cabin and handles well enough to escape the police – albeit at the expense of the swag carriers getting a firm ride.

The bodywork, aluminium, gets dented in car chases so have a good look, but the light weight helps performance and economy. If you are really brave you could go down the Ronin route and buy an Audi S8.

An old luxury French car - we can hear the mechanics rubbing their hands together already. However, the C6 has plenty of future-classic credentials

Citroën C6 (2005-2012)

New price: from £29,545 (today’s equivalent £40,484)

Price now: from £3,000

Citroën made a two-box fastback shape for the C6, meaning it’s more like a CX than the iconic DS. That also meant it had some trick styling cues like the convex rear screen and the curved seats.

The ride was the real piece de resistance though, a gorgeously smooth and cushioned progression.

However, the result is that many suspension components have had a hard time, so listen out for knocks and clonks. The C6 was the car of choice for French Presidents and looks exactly like a future classic.

Lexus LS 400 (1990-2000)

Smooth, quiet and comfortable - this was the first successful luxury-car attempt from Japanese car brand Lexus

New price: £37,095 (today’s equivalent £73,084)

Price now: from £1,000

This was the car that put Lexus on the luxury map.

The LS 400 showed that the Japanese could make a smooth, quiet luxurious saloon just full of technology and comfort. It’s frustrating because this was a fabulous car with epic reliability, yet the image never quite took off compared to the German rivals.

All that for only a grand? Ridiculous, but watch out for very expensive rear suspension problems.

Can you get a good deal from a car scrappage scheme?

If you're in the market for something new instead, car scrappage schemes are back.

But is this an altruistic move to help replace more polluting cars with greener ones, or are car makers just trying to flog more cars?

Sliding sales figures coincide with the scrappage schemes, so you could be forgiven for being cynical.

Simon Lambert and Rob Hull discuss whether you can get a good deal from a scrappage scheme on this week's This is Money podcast.

Listen to this week's full episode below or listen and subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Acast and Audioboom

It will probably be most remembered as Alan Partridge's choice of wheels, but the 800 should also be recalled for its smooth V6 powerplant

Rover 800 (1991-1998)

New price: from £19,245 (today’s equivalent £37,916)

Price now: from £300

Aha! Looks like Alan Partridge was on to something with this luxurious British car. If you’re surprised to see it here, don’t be, and look again.

See the lovely smooth V6 engines, the leather-wrapped cabin, and the full complement of kit and toys.

Get a good one, which will mean paying a bit more than the £300 quoted here, and you could be driving a luxury motor for really silly money.

And with most of the 800s long gone from Britain's roads, those that are left and in good condition are looking increasingly stylish. Buy a good Rover 800, take it to a classic car show and we guarantee you will have people coming to admire it and talk to you.

Mercedes S-Class (1999-2005)

We love this generation of S-Class, but be wary of rust and faulty electronics

New price: from £43,640 (today’s equivalent £69,402)

Price now: from £1,250

Just look at this W220 model. Who could argue that it isn’t the best looking S-Class ever made? And, it pains us to say this, you could get one from only a bit over a grand.

Lots of people bought in to those looks, backed up by undreamt of heights of luxury and equipment, which means that there are plenty about on the used market. Which in turn means you have quite a few to choose from, and the volume has pushed prices even lower.

Earlier ones can be prone to rust and all those electronics can cause trouble but imagine driving one of these. How much are chauffeurs?

Jaguar XJ (1997-2003)

If the Rolls-Royce is an expense too far to achieve the quintessential British motoring dream, how about this Jaguar XJ?

New price: from £34,475 (today’s equivalent £57,580)

Price now: from £1,500

As either a Jaguar, or the even more opulent Daimler, this XJ is a class act.

The cabin is resplendent in leather and wood in that style that reeks of British grace, and you’ll love every second in there. With the XJ8 model you have performance to match, but there are some caveats.

While the cabin is glorious it’s not actually that huge, despite the overall dimensions, and under the bonnet you need to make sure the original tensioners for the timing chain have been replaced with steel items or the bills could get exciting.

The XJ is a great car to drive and in good condition they still look stunning. Enough of them have vanished from the roads to see those that are left in decent nick enter the realm of the modern classic.

If things go wrong it will cost you money, but find a decent independent Jaguar specialist and you should be able to keep those bills to a minimum.

Many motoring correspondents couldn't understand why this wasn't more successful. 'French' and 'luxury car' used together might explain why

Renault Vel Satis (2002-2007)

New price: from £20,730 (today’s equivalent £30,947)

Price now: from £1,000

They say that looks aren’t everything, but clearly Renault decided to destruction-test that saying. It’s, what shall we say, different. Like the name. And that did quite dramatic things to the price, and in an entirely good way from our current perspective.

The thing is, for a grand you can get a car with a very nice V6 petrol engine, a certain rarity charm, and a cabin that is every inch the embodiment of French luxury and style.

It’s not even bad to drive, and when you’re driving it you won’t see what it looks like.

And if the Vel Satis isn't quite odd enough for you, here's a bonus option the even stranger Renault Avantime, with this example up for auction with no reserve at Historics' Brooklands Motor Museum auction on 23 September.